Say No to New Bombs and Missile Defense Site

UPDATE (May 18, 2012):The Markey Amendment to delay the new nuclear bomber was defeated 112-308. The Rehberg amendment to block implementation of the New START Treaty was approved 238-162.

NOTE: Unfortunately, the amendments below were not approved for debate by the House Rules Committee. However, you can still call your representative and ask him or her to support the Markey, No. 11, amendment to delay the new nuclear bomber and to oppose the Rehberg, no. 59, amendment on the New START treaty. Delaying the new bomber would save $18 billion over 10 years and still allow the Pentagon to deploy the same number of bombers as planned under New START. The Rehberg amendment would impose a one-for-one reduction implementation process for New START that is impractical and militarily unnecessary. Call your representative today at 877-429-0678!

Dear Friend,

This week, the House will likely vote on funding for a new nuclear bomb plant in New Mexico and wasteful spending on a new missile defense site on the East Coast. Your representative is one of a select few who could help stop these proposals--but he or she needs to hear from you.

Please call your representative today toll-free at 877-429-0678 and ask him or her to vote "yes" on three amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. When you call, ask to be connected to your representative's office (look up his or her name). Here are talking points to help you make your call.

• My name is ____ and I'm calling from (Your Town and State)
• I am asking Representative _____ to vote "yes" on three amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act: The Markey amendment to eliminate funding for a new bomb plant in New Mexico, the Sanchez amendment to reduce funding for nuclear weapons activities, and the Garamendi amendment to eliminate funding for a new missile defense site on the East Coast.
• Thank you.

These three amendments are likely to come up for a vote in the House this week.

1. No funding for a new bomb plant: We expect Rep. Ed Markey (MA) to offer an amendment to defund a new nuclear bomb plant in New Mexico. The Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) facility would increase the U.S. capacity to produce nuclear weapons. The total cost for the CMRR is estimated at up to $5.8 billion.

2. Reduce funding for nuclear weapons activities: We expect Rep. Jared Polis (CO) to offer and amendment to return funding levels for nuclear weapons activities to the administration's request. Savings resulting from the amendment would be directed to deficit reduction.

3. No funding for East Coast missile defense site: We expect Rep. John Garamendi (CA) to offer an amendment to defund a new missile defense site on the East Coast. The planned site would cost up to $5 billion and uses technology that has failed multiples tests. Furthermore, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on May 10 that the site is unnecessary.

The United States should be reducing its nuclear arsenal, not spending billions to increase capacity to build more bombs. The United States is not threatened by any country that is capable of striking the East Coast with an intercontinental ballistic missile. Please call 877-429-0678 and ask your representative to support eliminating funding for these projects in the defense authorization bill.

Thank you, and please spread the word by sharing this action alert with others. You can see other amendments that we are following on this legislation on our website.

Sincerely,

David Culp
Legislative Representative, Nuclear Disarmament